Bears struggle to find continuity in secondary

Friday

Aug 28, 2009 at 12:01 AMAug 28, 2009 at 8:22 AM

Three of Chicago’s four linemen and two of its three linebackers have started together for five years. If that’s not enough, the Bears added a pair of third-round draft picks to the line the last two years and brought in the Rams’ leading tackler at linebacker. That leaves the secondary, which is as unsettled as the rest of the Bears’ defense is established.

Staff reports

Three of Chicago’s four linemen and two of its three linebackers have started together for five years. If that’s not enough, the Bears added a pair of third-round draft picks to the line the last two years and brought in the Rams’ leading tackler at linebacker.

“The defensive line is looking real good, and the linebackers have always been the cornerstone of our defense,” backup cornerback Corey Graham said.

That leaves the secondary, which is as unsettled as the rest of the Bears’ defense is established. Injuries to Charles Tillman (back surgery), Zach Bowman (hamstring) and Danieal Manning (hamstring) means it’s possible that the only opening-day starter who has played a preseason minute so far is one who has never played a regular-season minute – rookie sixth-round pick Al Afalava at strong safety.

“Of course, we’d like to have all our guys back, but it’s not a big deal right now,” safety Kevin Payne said. “Everybody is flying around making plays.”

But it’s not enough to fly around. The Bears also say it’s vital to work together in the secondary.

“Everybody has to be on the same page in the secondary,” backup safety Craig Steltz said. “You want to have that one group that’s always out there and always communicating.”

But how can the Bears defensive backs work together when they haven’t been healthy together for weeks?

“It’s not always on the practice field,” Steltz said. “It goes on in the meeting rooms too, when you are talking like you are on the field.”

That sounds good. And so does an influx of young talent with Steltz, Bowman and Afalava drafted the last three years and Payne and cornerbacks Graham and Trumaine McBride in their third seasons.

“This is only my fourth year, so I’m still young at it,” Manning said, “but I’m the vet in one of the rooms. That’s the way it is right now. We went younger this year, but we’ve got a lot of talent. We’ve got more athleticism going on back there.”

The Bears were due to make changes in the secondary after ranking 30th in the NFL against the pass last year (241.2 yards per game). But the changes have been constant.?Manning added safety to his nickel back duties two days before training camp started.

Graham was moved to safety in organized team activities, then back to corner and nickel after Manning and Bowman tweaked their hamstrings. Payne was moved from strong safety to free safety to make way for Afalava after Manning was hurt, and may now lose his starting spot when Manning returns.

“We’ve used a lot of guys in a lot of situations,” defensive backs coach Jon Hoke said. “That’s a good thing, because you develop depth.”

But you also struggle to develop continuity.

“It is harder, but that’s football,” Hoke said. “People get injured. People miss time. That’s an opportunity for guys to step up and show their teammates they deserve to play.”

All of the young players have shown flashes. But can they keep it up? And will they even get the chance? Whether through injury or performance, all four secondary spots remain unsettled for the Bears’ season-opener Sept. 13 in Green Bay.

“Whether new guys come in or some of the old guys come back, whoever is in there at the time has got to make the plays,” Graham said.

Matt Trowbridge can be reached at (815) 987-1383 or mtrowbridge@rrstar.com.